8am saw myself and Paul Coates arrive at the Warsash Rising Sun car park. This area is famous for sailing as it marks the end of the river Hamble, that then widens out to the Southampton waters and the Isle of Wight. Today we were running 15 miles as it’s now only two weeks to the marathon. Shingle coastal trail, riverbank and twice up a good hill, were on the menu.

The starter “as it were” was 1.25 miles, out and back, of varying amounts of shingle (see the photo below). As the wind was against us the harder going, under foot, meant a double dose of resistance training and the really exciting fact was that it would also be the “cheese board” of our route i.e. we would be repeating it as the last leg of the run. A good steady pace was maintained along the riverbank with wildlife and dingy traffic to watch as well as chatting.

The “main course” for our run was the 230 feet elevation hill from Lower Swanwick up to the Windhover Manor that we would run twice. This climb is in two halves with a false flat in the middle. The first time up was quite manageable and the second was just what we needed, “a good test”.  Ten miles done and still averaging 9 minute miles talk turned to the race its self with kit options and shoe choice discussed and in no time we were running past the boatyard and pressing on.

A small wooden bridge at 11 miles provided the ideal opportunity for a gel break and a quick video. Paul is convinced he looks like Brad Pitt, I will leave that up to the viewers decision/imagination 🙂 We passed the pink ferry that takes foot passengers cross the Hamble river and both agreed the earlier resistance training would be a fitting end to a good run.

After a bit of a laugh with two lady walkers and a group of hikers the shingle was concurred and the 15 miles done. Great company, great run and role on the taper with 10 miles next week. All this talk of food has also wet my appetite for replacing the 1,800 calories that I burnt 🙂

A 7am start saw myself, Craig Goodwin, Paul Coates and Mark Greenfield setting off from Lee on Solent’s amusements car park with both “banter” and light drizzle in the air. I’d aimed at a route that was similar in nature to the Arun River Marathon that 3 of the 4 of us are running. Craig was returning from the SDW50 and a knee injury which sadly fared up late on.

The wind off the sea was against us, as we ran along Hill Head, with views of the Isle of White to our left and the fields to our right this meant the coastal path was living up to its name. The path has a number of shingle sections which were run with relish and as Fawley refinery and big oil tankers came into view, Warsash was upon us. I could taste the salt on my forehead as we headed inland on the Hamble riverbank.

The Hamble rivers 100’s of yachts were a sight to see and by now we’d all agreed that the latest “Thomasson’s Tours” was going well. We crossed the bridge at Lower Swanwick and started the uphill run. With the weather improving Paul and Craig ran on an extra 1/2 mile and Mark and I turned for home. It’s a pleasure running in this area and we are very lucky to have it on our doorstep.

A feature of today’s run was the “banter” which is necessary when you are taking on 20 miles, even if it’s on a scenic route such as today. We passed the boatyards and yatchs from earlier and were soon back on the coast with the wind behind us. We discussed Craig’s worsening knee problem and agreed to press on as a “3” and jump in the car to pick him up. All in all 20 ish solid coastal/riverbank miles with a hill for good measure. Great company and a great run.

I’d planned a 19 mile run as I’m entered in the Arun River marathon in 4 weeks time. The route I chose mirrored the elevation as much as I could. Setting off from Fareham (Hampshire), along to Titchfield and onto Warsash (all road) then onto the riverbank of the Hamble (8 miles) and up a 1.5 mile hill to the Windhover roundabout, so an out and back 9.5 miles = 19 in total.

As I set off at 5.30pm the sun was still shinning and all was good. The outward 9.5 miles went well and the riverbank section was particularly enjoyable with the yachts bobbing at their moorings. I took the hill at a descent rate and even got a beep from a car full of ladies, who I can only presume were short sighted.

My return leg saw the sun much lower in the sky and a breeze blowing off the river that needed some extra effort. By mile 15 my right thigh was starting to ache and in many ways it’s this kind of run that can be just as constructive as an “issue free” one. As a runner we all hear those “Voices” … “slow down, walk a bit, this is getting hard” etc and it’s a case of managing it.

I slowed down initially and that helped but Titchfield hill had to be walked. I’m no expert but I think you have to listen to your body, blindly fighting against it is an option, but by the time I’d added 2 or 3 walks to ease my thigh I got back into a rhythm. I made a point of stopping my garmin when I walked, 18.1 run 0.9 walked, so in my book the damage limitation paid off.

 

While on holiday I had a cheeky run along the cliffs planned as they looked far to inviting to be ignored. I got up early and decided to run along the beach first. The Sandy Bay beach is so called as it’s a three quarters of a mile stretch of “picture postcard” golden sand. The cove is around the headland from Exmouth and at 7.30am with hardly a wave in sight it was a pleasure to run on.

Once I’d run up the steep but short beach path I was onto the headland and heading out of the caravan park. The reassuring wooden coastal path signs soon pointed me in the direction of a narrow track that ran along side the cliff edge. The highest point of the cliff is West Down Beacon which is one of the series of beacons that were set alight, along the coast, to warn if the French were invading at the time of the Napoleonic wars. Today it was only me 🙂

The first photo below shows the reason I wanted to run here as it’s a good old slog up to the top. I had amazing views in all directions, not least the sheer drop down to the sea !! My aim was to run to Budleigh Salterton and back via the cliffs. The second photo below is the view from the end of the stony beach at Budleigh, looking back to the cliffs that I’d come from.

All that remained now was to run back along the narrow track with the sound of the sea gently lapping on the stones, the sent of the warm air blowing across the fields and the sight of the sea stretching out for miles towards the horizon. It was only 8 miles but this is why “irunoffroad”.

 

All credit to Hampshire County Council for putting together links to the 12 long distance paths that “run” through our county and give endless possibilities for us to get away from towns and tarmac. It’s a classic case of “well I didn’t know that, and now I do, I want to run it”.

There’s so much scope to plan much more interesting routes. All of a sudden you can add hills, fields, styles, streams and hidden paths that you never knew existed. Many of the Paths and Ways cross each other so you can hop from one to another and personalise your route. Add April’s sunshine and you have the perfect mix.

Our recent run from Winchester down to Fareham did just that starting with the obvious South Downs Way and then linking lesser well know routes. Keeping a sharp eye out for different coloured route markers is essential and having a printed version with you will save those difficult “is it here that we turn off ? ” decisions. Planning your route will both save time and add to the sense of achievement when you have finished.

Click on the link or find a similar one in your are. Step out of your door and go explore.

http://www3.hants.gov.uk/longdistance.htm

When we found out that Nikki Yeo from Fareham Crusaders had her 100th Park Run at QE park the Easter run then became easy to plan. Mark Greenfield and myself agreed starting from the Sustainability Centre down to, and through, Queen Elizabeth County park could then be extended across to Chalton and loop back. This route means lots of mud and lots of elevation, (all the good stuff !!) and a few new miles of the Staunton Way to explore too.

On our way around we heard skylarks and came across people setting up a husky sleigh. Once returned to QE Park we had racked up 10.5 miles and met up with our fellow Crusaders. We formed a tunnel of honour for Nikki’s start and completed the 5K. Congratulations to Nikki and we were off again up Butser Hill.

Running up Butser, after a half marathon of country hills and trails, my legs were screaming !! Getting close to your limits is something that can be managed but I think you have to respect them and walk when necessary. The trail levelled off thankfully and the relief of a couples miles of country lanes followed. So 17.5 miles and a calf crunching 2,100 feet of elevation along with a liberal sprinkling of mud meant we were done. A good test of our hill form and all before 10.45am, sorted.

Today’s run was a combination of recovery and investigation !! At my age you have to listen to your body and over the last week  I decided today ought to be an easy run after 18,22 & 16 miles over the last 3 weeks. However, that said, you can get a lot out of an easy run if you put your mind to it. Running for the sake of running is a waste, so I had a look at the Hampshire rights of way website in my local area and came up with 3 footpaths I never knew existed. It’s always a pleasure discovering new routes that are parallel or close to roads/pavements and knowing you have found an off road option.

I checked these said footpaths out and now can factor them in, as and when, to future runs. The first use I will put them to is running club training night, this Tuesday. As the hour has gone forward the extra light needs to be used to it’s best advantage this, in my book, means running somewhere different that’s green and brown rather than black tarmac 🙂

Todays 7.5 miles mean I feel I’m rested and ready to ramp it up again next week. I also made a point of running on the grass verge whenever possible for less wear and tear. Finally my Ron Hill Tempest 100% waterproof jacket had it’s first outing, to great effect. I bought it more for long distance runs where you are out on the exposed downs and subject to the elements throwing what they can at you so todays trot in and around town wasn’t quite that, but I thought I’d take advantage of the challenging weather as a tester.

Photo wise, I find the amount of mud on the back of your legs usually equates to the size of the smile on your face 🙂 All in all a very constructive easy run.

 The view far exceeds the video quality, nothing too professional here 🙂 !!!

A 16.5 mile round trip from the car park at Wickham to where the South Downs Way crosses the old railway line and then up to the top of Old Winchester Hill. Amazing views from the top and I was rewarded with the sun coming out on the way back.

The railway line has had a considerable amount of work done to it and with more promised for May 2015 I feel this could have been one of the last runs on it before it becomes more “commercial”. The old railway line has long been a hidden gem that not too many people knew about. The gradual incline out of Wickham has a tree lined corridor where the trains would have run, so from a runners point of view, gives shade in the summer and protection from the wind in the winter.

The nature of the old railway line means there are a number of interesting red brick bridges to run under as well as Droxford’s privately owned station where Winston Churchill once met with other allied heads to discuss the D Day landings !! As the miles pass by you mind drifts to what it must have been like decades ago. I’m sure the track and it’s access onto the SDW will remain a favourite of mine.

The sound of a woodpecker, the spring flowers and the benefit of some gradual downhill on the way back mean the miles are quickly clocked up. Always a pleasure & that’s why we run.

Our long awaited 22 mile run back from Winchester started with my alarm clock going off at 5.15am !! With my kit spread out in the lounge like I was in a triathlon transition I consumed my porridge with vigour and was off out the door (p.s. I did have a wash) and jogging towards the train station. Ironically I saw Mark running on the other side of the road and we met Craig Goodwin by the ticket machine.

The 6.15am train to Winchester was our transport and in no time we were out of the station and running down Winchester High street. Market traders were setting up for  business and I was looking for that iconic signpost that says 99 miles to Eastbourne !! We crossed the A3 bridge and were in the countryside. I’ve read books and watched videos about the South Downs Way so running from King Harold’s statue was really inspiring. After about 4 miles we left the SDW and started heading south east towards Bishops Waltham.

Don’t ask me how or where we ran over the next ten miles as I relied on Mark Greenfield’s navigation skills from his trusty map and Craig’s army training played a part too. After a while one cops looks similar to another but it’s certainly inspiring not knowing what’s around the next hedge or over the brow of the next hill 🙂

Well trodden tracks, hidden styles, grass turning to bog, running water and stagnant water, short steep hill climbs and long wide open fields led us to the BW main roundabout. Off road again and we came out on the outskirts of Waltham Chase. At this stage after 14 off road miles we decided the pavement was a good option so it was tarmac to Wickham and Mayles lane then a splattering of mud along the deviation line and back to Fareham.

A rewarding mornings running resulted in a training run distance personal best for me. A great run with great company, thanks lads … “Good Times”

Running can be an individual thing were you loose yourself in your thoughts or you simply switch off, relax and think about nothing at all. Since Christmas I’ve been running a lot with Mark Greenfield who has basically “been there and done it”. The miles do pass quicker with company and I’m sure once the Spring marathons pass we will have more company.

The video above is a matter of seconds long but summed up a 2 hour plus run. Get up early and soak up the first rays of sunshine on a cold and crisp morning as nature wakes up with you. Training runs don’t even need to be part of a plan heading towards an event, they can just be enjoyable.

Running with club mates and like minded long distance people means you are sharing your spare time with other people that “get” what you are about and that’s a great buzz.

“Come on down” !!!